The list of reasons

As an architect, let me know once Linux supports autodesk products and adobe products. Until then I gotta stick with windows.
- I have the strong urge to point out it's the other way around; Adobe and Autodesk have to support Linux. You're of course right though, with the strong lock-in effect from those big companies it's almost impossible to switch unless done on company-level. And even then project partners will expect files to be in a specific (proprietary) format most of the time.
  It was really disheartening to see Ondsel ES fail, it was a valiant attempt at creating a business-grade Open-Source CAD solution based on FreeCAD. Unfortunately Autodesk's monopoly extinguished any attempt at finding funding, despite existing interest by those who actually use that stuff (I assume Autodesk is fucking expensive like any monopoly software...). Education, Production, Distribution… those few big companies own and control literally every part. It would probably take both governmental effort as well as some kind of soft UI-standardisation to crack these power structures.
- Autodesk I understand but the adobe suite sucks major donkey balls anyway

It's TruckersMP for me because it's built on .NET libraries and I can't get truckersmp-cli to load my DLCs for whatever reason :|

- Lmao stealing this
- Indeed it is brother... indeed it is.

Video games.
- video games work pretty well in general

Unfortunately, my vr headset requires a piece of middleware that is not Linux compatible. But, by the time 10 LTSC reaches end of life, Deckard should be available for purchase.
Also, I'll need to re-pirate substance painter for avatar work, as GenP doesn't do Linux either.
- What headset? Most headsets work fine now. I had some issues with an old WMR headset (HP Reverb G2), but even Windows doesn't support WMR anymore so it's basically dead. Went with a Quest 3 eventually and it works great with WiVRn (ALVR works as well, but it's a bit more clunky).
  
  Pimax. Fantastic FOV, but wide and clunky, and the rest is just meh.

When you're Canadian, European or basically not a US citizen, that alone should be enough reason not to use windows..don't give your money to greedy corporate overlords of a dictatorship

I side-loaded Mint for a couple hours just to goof around, and then . . . never booted Windows again, quite literally forgot it was installed three days later
- Sounds just like my last dual boot setup, as well.
  I believe I said "I'll just boot back to Windows next time I want to play...this game...that just launched and played perfectly under Proton...or...this other game...which also works...huh..."

shitty anticheat protected games where the dev has specifically chose to block linux?

I'm going to give you the secret to switching. Go all AMD for your build, and leave everything you know about Windows software and how it works at the door. Learn to use Linux. Expecting it and Linux software to work like Windows is the pitfall.
- To be fair. In my experience, everything mostly does work like in windows. But I always think it's like attributing Windows switching to Linux as Mac to Windows.
  Mac users are used to not dealing with the registry, lusrmgr, local group policies in the same way Windows users aren't used to dealing with fstab, grub, proton, wine, various desktop environment tweaks.

I feel like a stuck record saying this, but if there was a serious contender to Group Policy on Linux I honestly think Windows in the workplace would be dead in five years.
- I'm convinced everyone on Lemmy works IT
  
  I'm convinced they all live in the moms' basement eating chicken tendies.
- Negative. Windows on Desktop uses vendor lock-in to maintain it's user base. It's been that way for nearly 30 years. People only think they are choosing Windows themselves. Anywhere Microsoft can not enforce vendor lock-in, Linux dominates. Even IoT, a brand new market (well it was brand new ten years ago), 80% dominated by Linux. Microsoft had to make Windows free for IoT and 9" or less devices just to try and be competitive. People only think everything is made for Windows, because OEMs are forced to sell a Windows license with every PC or lose their volume licensing deals. That means every OEM has to spend engineering dollars on Windows drivers, software, and testing. When your business has very thin margins, you can't afford to have second or even third engineering efforts for competitor OSes. Imagine how Linux would be if PC companies were spending engineering dollars on Linux for the last 30 years. Right now the money comes primarily from server sales money. If there was demand for Linux on Desktop in the workplace, there would be tons of competing FOSS Group Policy implementations.
- What about YaST?
  
  I've seen YaST used at a distance and I think it's up to the job of managing servers and headless systems but, seriously, it's not even close to Group Policy. I not trying to sound dismissive of alternatives - I really do want a FOSS replacement - but it is hard to overstate how flexible and granular Group Policy is.
- For what it's worth, Ubuntu integrates ADsys, which allows for dconf updates through gpo templates. I've not heard anything on it for a while but the github repo was last updated 6 months ago

Literally just steam VR in home streaming is all I need to fully dump windows.

Audio production/editing. You can switch to mac but not to linux at the moment. Well, you can do on linux like 80% of what you can on windows by using Wine, but certain apps and plugins are incompatible right now. The one that holds me back is Izotope RX suite, which is a de-facto standard for audio restoration/clean-up, and it's all because of their drm (even the cracked versions have the drm merely bypassed, but it still crashes during the initialization, at least it was like that when I last tried it a couple of months ago).
- That doesn't seem true unless you already require specific software or plugins. If you're just getting into it and still have the ability to choose freely without losses, DAWs like Bitwig Studio, Reaper, even Ardour will get you there. There's a wide range of fully working DACs, now with the Pipewire audio backend you don't have to meddle with Pulseaudio and/or Jack anymore either. There's also a wide range of plugins etc. Collected some info about those a while ago (when I thought I had time for extensive blogging, lol).
  To be fair, that's all for audio production, not necessarily restoration(?). Perhaps you know something about that specific niche I don't.
  
  You are correct, you can do a lot of stuff in Linux already, but not everything. If you're just starting it may not be that big of a problem, but if you're already accustomed to certain tools, switching to an alternative may be very troublesome, especially if you have paying customers for this type of stuff and risk missing the deadlines or delivering an inferior result because the alternative isn't as good yet or the compatibility layer decides to break at the most inconvenient moment.
  Also I don't know about DACs, but from my understanding it's a coin toss whether the audio interfaces will work properly on linux, snd sometimes you need to record stuff. I haven't seen any big manufacturer providing linux drivers for the interfaces, and AFAIK some pro-level interfaces only work only with the proprietary drivers. Again, not that big of a hurdle if you're just starting, but if you already paid 1000$ for an interface and it turns out to be incompatible, it's a bummer, to say the least
- U can use bitwig (native linux version) with https://github.com/robbert-vdh/yabridge and cracked version izotope https://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6656658 https://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6575804
  Or ableton which works fine in wine nowdays
  
  I use Reaper, and Reaper itself works fine. It also has native support for Linux. I will try this specific cracked version of Izotope though, thanks. Hopefully I'll have better luck with this version than with the one I tried before
- For audio editing, you don't need windows, neither linux, that's still the best on mac, but you need to be filthy rich
  
  Well, mac is the best, but windows isn't that far behind in this niche. And yeah, I'm not throwing away my Ryzen 7700/RTX3060 build and spending one fuckton on mac hardware just to get rid of windows, thank you

For me it is the malwares. Other platforms do not stand a chance against windows.
- Agreed, my malware collection would never be this big if I couldn't use Windows.
  
  "My collection of rare, incurable diseases! Violated!"
- Like you want a lot of malware? O.o
  
  Only cute ones :3

I'm so close to making the switch. I'm just a poor soul though who enjoys games with those annoying anti-cheats. Thinking about trying to do a duel boot just for those specific scenarios.
- Thats what I have. I suggest you take 2 different drives. Makes your life a lot easier.
  
  Yeah, windows does NOT like other systems on its drive, with separate drives it won't steal boot
  
  I agree, dualboot is something you shouldn't even attempt between linux and windows on the same drive. With some time, one, or both systems will totally break
- Definitely duel boot. I always like to keep my options open.
  
  duel boot
  Lmao Linux and Windows sitting there like ⚔️ ⚔️ ⚔️
- Just a PSA, The Finals is playable on Linux and is F2P with a very reasonable monetization (cosmetic only with some free cosmetic options as well) and the new season just began.
  For me it scratches that multiplayer itch because the destructible environments make matches feel very dynamic.
  
  How it's the community? I expect a good bit of toxicity with any online but if it's not flooded with kids like fortnite I'd assume it's not too bad.
  And what about the mtx? Is it aggressive or annoying?

Wait, there's something scrawled on the corner down here in crayon...
i'm lazy

Fusion 360
Cubase

hdr and mod organiser 2
- HDR works fine with Plasma (KDE). Regarding MO2, do you think the Nexus Mods app could eventually replace it? They work on a native client that already supports a few games.
  
  I've no clue I'm hoping on nma but it still only supports 2 games after all this time and both nmm and vortex were absolutely god awful if vortex worked it'd be fine as that works on Linux apparently but mo2 has a third party wine installer script that kinda works but fomod installers don't work so it doesn't really work it's kinda useless but yeah I'll just have to wait and see on nma

There’s plenty of software that is windows exclusive and has little to no Linux compatibility, although it is shit praxis, it is an argument to use windows

So, a few years back, when a good friend of mine tried out Linux mint, one of the main reasons he didn't stick with it wasn't even compatibility or anything (although he probably would have switched to a rolling release as someone who values cutting edge updates). But what ultimately made him return to Windows was something, I have been scratching my head on how to best handle it: The file system structure ultimately being too much of a change.
Now, of course, if you are used to it, I wouldn't really call it better or worse - definitely more suited to what Linux ultimately is. But stuff like, "Where are the save games of my paradox games? Why is so much stuff in my user directory? Why is there no unified directoy for all the stuff I installed (including everything they use), like Program Files, but everything is scattered all around into different directories? Why was the path to my save games hidden in a dotfile-folder?" were examples of hurdles, where the current answer seems to be "you just have to get used to it".
Now, I am not pleading to change the standard, there's good reasons for it. But are there good transitioning guides from Windows to Linux, that do a good job at explaining the structure of the file system? Because I remember, myself, only really getting used to it months into my Linux journey all those years ago.
- Ehm, your friend should really hold ma beer.
  Windows: ok, where files of program N? Let's check: C:/Program files? Or Program files (x86)? Why do I happen to see same program in both?
  Ah, Documents/N? Maybe. But empty
  C:/AppData/(or whatever that is called)...fucking_hell? With fucking invisible folders? Really?
  As to the actual question, I remember just googling the standard, got some idea back then. Now found https://linuxhandbook.com/linux-directory-structure/ should be good enough (I guess, being used to reading software docs does change views on what is good/bad and also builds tolerance to detailed descriptions)
- Why was the path to my save games hidden in a dotfile-folder?
  It isn't any better on Windows, but oh boy does this one piss me off.
  
  ~/.config/mygame — wtf, no it's not config ~/mygame — fuck off, the home folder is mine ~/.local/share/mygame — better, I guess? ~/.cache/mygame — absolutely not here ~/.steam/.../MyGame — still not great, but at least it's self contained
  
  Yeah, that one really isn't Linux's fault either, and both on Linux and Windows, it's always "exciting" to see which dev used which wild, new scheme for their config/save files.
- I'd LOVE a resource like that! I'm sure it exists but I never found it, and it is a silly thing to be hung up on but I just didn't properly understand the folder structure. I've still used Linux plenty but I'm dragging my feet on using it as a daily driver, but I'm VERY close to making the jump.
- I get this. If I wasn't already familiar and comfortable with OSX, I wouldn't have been nearly as confident switching over and knowing how to tweak things.
  Both NYC and LA have good ramen places. Doesn't mean I'm only a hurry to get on the 405 in a new car when I know the MTA map like the back of my hand.

For me it's Nvidia tech, VR, and HDR, even if they're technically supported, they're much more of a hassle than on Windows.
- Funnily enough, I've seen opinions that Windows has awful HDR handling and Plasma is much better, but I don't have a proper HDR display to check. I've also had some success with VR, though I haven't played much on Linux. That said, support from software for those things for Linux is still widely lacking, so it's not much consolation.
  
  The thing with Windows is that it's very much set and forget with HDR. I don't bother with auto HDR since it isn't great, but I just enable HDR, and have RTX HDR handle non-HDR games. I don't really need to touch anything else or launch games in a specific way to get it working. I've tried VR with Linux but I've been spoiled by the accessibility of VD.
- I have a decent list of software I need it for unfortunately so I'm keeping my best PC on Windows, but I have four PCs in the house. I've been running Linux on one of them for a couple years but the other two will be moved over by Windows 10 EOL.

This ethereal concept titled “Work” is pointing a pistol towards me.
But yeah. Windows is trash. I’m going to go submit resumes and buy lottery tickets.
- what kind of software are you trying to run? i don't have many issues with work.
  
  Microsoft software and NinjaRMM screen sharing. Ninja and MS SQL management tools are the biggest blockers since the web versions of M365 are adequate.
- Yup. Trying to get various work critical specific pieces of software working on Linux is just not a reasonable concept. Dual boot is the only option.
  
  I’m probably going to invest in some hardware to get powerful enough VMs.
  
  Are you guys using your own computers to work? I connect vpn and then remote desktop.
  I can't escape windows at work because my company uses all windows.

Fusion 360 for me. Freecads incredibly user unfriendly, openscad is missing functionality and performance, and blender isn't great for engineering modeling
- There are dozens of us. Surely someone can figure out how to port F360 to Linux, or make a functional clone
  
  id bet it works on wine
  
  I've been thinking about it, but it is a crap ton of work
- How about Onshape?

Fan control. MSI after burner. Nvidia drivers.
Windows 10 gaming desktop
Mint laptop
- Fancontrol-gui, corectl, yeah nvidia drivers still suck but are improving.
  
  Yea and I just got gifted a 2080ti, so I'm gonna stick with windows on my stationary desktop. However my laptop does use Mint and that's my daily driver.

I did it as long as gaming kept me there. Now I can play pretty much anything on my Linux machine. Forza fucked up. But whatever. It's a not a game to die for.

Tax perp software was the only thing I needed it for in the last year. I haven't converted my gaming PC to Linux yet, but I don't anticipate an issue.

I keep a windows LTSC install around purely for Escape from Tarkov. Everything else I play works great on Linux.

My only real reason is the amount of stuff I'd have to move over

Sometimes it is easier

CAD
- I mean I had my wild youth, but who didn't

A few months ago I installed windows on a spare SSD. It's only purpose was for modded Skyrim.
A few weeks ago I accidentally formated that drive. It was only mildly annoying. Then I remembered I was basically done with that playthrough anyways. The SSD still remains unformated XD
- "Accidentally formatted that drive"
  Someone is playing with fire.
  
  Yep, that's me. Wasn't 100% sober at the time. Self inflicted I admit. Not the first time, won't be the last XD

I need to connect to my work machine with RDP and I tried using Remmina. Sometimes it works fine, but sometimes the special key stop working( ctrls + s will type s instead of saving) Also there are visual glitches on a second monitor. I had to switch back to windows.
Can anyone recommend a different RDP client?
- @Rusty @Kory Usually i using http://www.rdesktop.org/, but it is not actively developed now
  
  I'll try it, thanks.

Msm flash tool, I need windows for this
- Msm flash tool
  If that's all you need. I bet you could just run it from WINE. I updated my PS5 controller using the PlayStation flash tool or whatever it's called. I used Bottles to do all the WINE stuff. Just installed the flash tool and it worked like it was Windows. Pretty shocked if I'm being honest.
  
  I've to do usb passthrough to use msm tool, but I'll try since you said it worked for u.

I have one reason that I fire up a Windows VM once a quarter. I do the financial reporting for the local branch of a volunteer run non-profit. All of the reporting is done through an Excel sheet that is over 20 years old which is heavily macroized with VB Script. It doesn't run in LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, Apple Numbers, Google Sheets, or even online in MS Office 365(!). It only runs on a locally installed copy of Excel running on a machine with a printer installed. We're working on moving to something better, but the people at the higher levels are incredibly resistant to change.

Yeah...., gamepass 🥲 the only thing that holds me there at the moment.

I have to keep a spare bootable drive laying around for these muppet companies who only have firmware update mechanisms on windows, my monitor and thunderbolt dock being two that come to mind.
- Isn't firmware flashed with JTAG or from bios from a pendrive?

VR and steam, for now.
- Actually steam games work well. It's non steam games and ones with kernel level anti cheat.
  
  Interesting. What about Epic? (I don’t like them but free games are free games and I have a lot)
- Steam's primary platform is Linux wdym
- I palayed half life Alex on the Vive when it came out on popos. That said I tried to play it again about 18month later and it was broken; would launch but not load properly. Beat saber has worked for me very consistently, mods are hard to get going but it's possible.
  
  I’m using an outdated Samsung headset with the windows mixed reality portal. It’s UI is so far superior to Oculus I have I may repair it for another decade rather than upgrade.

Only thing are my files, that are pretty tricky to transfer securely while maintaining compatibility (i dualboot)

I play FFXIV a lot. On Linux, it seems that Teamcraft does not packet capture, so it won’t autofill my crafting/gathering lists. This is the only thing keeping me from swapping. Sure it’s a tiny thing, but it really helps when I’m just mindlessly gathering in the game.